Pathway Resource - 1st sentence of Cover Letter Exercise.xlsx

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1	If you want to break into or build a career in soccer, visit pathwayhq.com
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3	PATHWAY RESOURCE: COVER LETTER 1ST SENTENCE	PATHWAY EXAMPLE	YOUR EXAMPLE
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5	Follow the steps below to write and refine a killer first sentence for your cover letter. You should write and rewrite until you feel like you’ve written something that will arrest the reader.	Below we've take a boring first sentence example (the original) and do a mini-version of the exercise going from straight and simple to wild and creative.	In the cells below, copy/paste your original first sentence and then run through the 5-step exercise to land a killer new opening sentence.
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7	1. Review the first sentence of a recent cover letter	Original: “I am writing to express my keen interest in your open Graphic Designer position”	Original:
8	Ask yourself - do you find it interesting? Does the first sentence want to make you read more? If the answer is no, you’ve got work to do.
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12	2. Now, read your entire cover letter at least twice
13	Pull out the 2-3 major themes you’re trying to communicate focusing on the things that make you and your candidacy unique Is it your work history? A specific role you’ve held? A degree or award you’ve earned?	Rewrite 1: “As a graphic designer with five years of professional experience, your open role caught my attention.”	Rewrite 1:
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19	3. Write down the 2-3 themes that you believe stand out	Rewrite 2: “As someone who thrives at the intersection of creative design and soccer culture, I didn’t have a choice but to throw my hat in the ring for this role.”	Rewrite 2:
20	These should become your anchor themes that should then show up as primary points throughout your cover letter
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24	4. Next, write 20 (at least 20!) 1-sentence variations for each theme
25	Write the sentence straight and simple to start and work up to wild and creative Make every word count - no filler, no fluff This is important: Use different words than everyone else!	Rewrite 3: “I am a soccer-watching, pixel-pushing, problem-solving graphic designer - and the person you had in mind when you wrote this job description.”	Rewrite 3:
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31	5. Now, go through the process of elimination to narrow down to your top 3-5 sentences		Rewrite 4:
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33	Grab those trusted friends and family members and ask them to rank the ones that grab their attention from most to least You’ll likely see a pattern develop as to which is most intriguing
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38	FINISH: Pick the one that most resonates and then - and we’re sorry for this! - rewrite your entire cover letter to deliver on the promise of that first sentence.
39			Rewrite 5:
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41	Be interesting. Be conversational. Be yourself. Be honest.
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